Heat Exchange System for Patient Temperature Control With Easy Loading High Performance Peristaltic Pump

ABSTRACT

A peristaltic pump has an arcuate raceway with a partially concave inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°). The arc defines a midpoint, and a rotor faces the inner surface of the raceway and is both rotatable relative to the raceway and translationally movable relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance. A motor is coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor plural are rollers arranged on the rotor to contact tubing disposed between the rotor and the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position. The motor is prevented from stopping at a predetermined angular position to facilitate loading and unloading tubing.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to heat exchange systems for patient temperature control with easy loading high performance peristaltic pumps.

BACKGROUND

Patient temperature control systems have been introduced to prevent fever in patients in the neuro ICU due to suffering from sub-arachnoid hemorrhage or other neurologic malady such as stroke. Also, such systems have been used to induce mild or moderate hypothermia to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from such maladies as stroke, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, traumatic brain injury, and high intracranial pressure. Examples of intravascular heat exchange catheters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,914,564, 6,416,533, 6,409,747, 6,405,080, 6,393,320, 6,368,304, 6,338,727, 6,299,599, 6,290,717, 6,287,326, 6,165,207, 6,149,670, 6,146,411, 6,126,684, 6,306,161, 6,264,679, 6,231,594, 6,149,676, 6,149,673, 6,110,168, 5,989,238, 5,879,329, 5,837,003, 6,383,210, 6,379,378, 6,364,899, 6,325,818, 6,312,452, 6,261,312, 6,254,626, 6,251,130, 6,251,129, 6,245,095, 6,238,428, 6,235,048, 6,231,595, 6,224,624, 6,149,677, 6,096,068, 6,042,559, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

External patient temperature control systems may be used. Such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,827,728, 6,818,012, 6,802,855, 6,799,063, 6,764,391, 6,692,518, 6,669,715, 6,660,027, 6,648,905, 6,645,232, 6,620,187, 6,461,379, 6,375,674, 6,197,045, and 6,188,930 (collectively, “the external pad patents”), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In general, in all of the intravascular and external patient temperature control solutions, the temperature of the working fluid flowing through the catheter or pad is regulated by a heat exchange console based on feedback provided by the patient's actual body temperature, typically core body temperature as may be variously measured rectally, esophageally, tympanic ear temperature, blood temperature in, e.g., the vena cava, etc. The working fluid temperature is regulated by thermally coupling the working fluid to heating and/or cooling elements in the console. In many cases, the working fluid is forced in a closed fluid circuit path (including the console and the catheter or pad) by a peristaltic pump acting on IV tubing in the fluid circuit path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As understood herein, peristaltic pumps typically include a rotor for revolving one or more rollers against an IV tube to force fluid through the tube by peristalsis, and an arcuate raceway against which the tube is urged by the rollers. The ease by which the tube can be loaded between the rollers and raceway competes with the performance of the pump: an easier to load pump typically has lower performance, whereas a higher performance pump (with higher pumping pressure and fluid flow) usually entails more complex loading of the tube. This is because in easy to load pumps, the raceway is typically movable away from the rollers to facilitate easily placing the tube between the rollers and raceway, but higher performance pumps require longer raceways (greater than 180 degrees of arc) that are generally not movable away from the pump, complicating the task of loading the tube (which for high performance applications is relatively thick and inflexible compared to low performance tubes) between the rollers and raceway.

Accordingly, a pump has an arcuate raceway with a concave inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°). The arc defines a midpoint, and a rotor faces the inner surface of the raceway and is both rotatable relative to the raceway and translationally mounted relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance. A motor is coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor. Plural rollers are arranged on the rotor to contact tubing disposed between the rotor and the raceway at least when the rotor is in the pump position. The motor is prevented from stopping at least one angular position in which at least one roller is in a predetermined location.

If desired, the concave inner surface of the raceway may extend through an arc of between one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and two hundred degrees (200°). The rollers can include at least one drive roller on the rotor. The drive roller can have a cylindrical outer surface, with the entire outer surface being configured to urge against a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position and is rotated. The drive roller has no flanges with peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface. At least one guide roller may be on the rotor and may have a cylindrical outer surface and top and bottom flanges defining respective peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller. With this structure, a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway is received on the cylindrical outer surface ofthe guide roller between the flanges when the rotor is in the pump position and is rotated. Plural drive rollers and plural guide rollers may be provided; in some implementations, two and only two drive rollers and two and only two guide rollers are provided.

In examples, a motor mount supports the motor and rotor and a positioning mechanism is coupled to the motor mount and is manipulable by a person to move the motor mount to thereby move the rotor between the pump position and the tube load position. The motor mount can be parallel to the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position and obliquely angled relative to the raceway when the rotor is in the tube load position.

In examples discussed further below, the arc of the raceway defines opposed arc ends, and the predetermined location of the roller corresponding to the angular position at which the motor is prevented from stopping is at an arc end. To this end, a controller can be configured for controlling the motor and an angular position sensor can be configured for sensing angular position of the motor and generating a signal indicative thereof to the controller. The controller is configured to use the signal to prevent the motor from stopping at the angular position in which at least one roller is in the predetermined location.

In another aspect, a method includes rotating a peristaltic pump rotor relative to a raceway to urge fluid through a tube disposed between the raceway and the rotor. The method also includes automatically preventing the rotor from stopping at one or more predetermined angular positions.

In another aspect, a pump includes a raceway, a rotor spaced from the raceway, and a motor configured to rotate the rotor to urge fluid through atube disposed between the raceway and the rotor. A controller is configured to control the motor to automatically prevent the motor from stopping at one or more predetermined angular positions.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a non-limiting system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pump with the rotor in the pump position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pump with the rotor in the pump position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pump with the rotor in the tube load position, illustrating a person manually loading the tube between the raceway and the rotor;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pump with the rotor in the tube load position;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views from the bottom and top, respectively, of the pump, illustrating features of an example embodiment, with portions broken away in FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are exploded side views respectively showing the relationship between the motor mount and the raceway in the tube load and pump positions of the rotor, with some portions broken away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, in accordance with present principles, a system 10 may include an intravascular heat exchange catheter 12 controlled by a control system 14 to control patient temperature, e.g., to prevent the patient 16 from becoming febrile or to induce therapeutic hypothermia in the patient 16. In the catheter, working fluid (also referred to as “coolant”) such as but not limited to saline circulates (typically under the influence of a pump “P” in the control system) in a closed loop from the control system 14, through a fluid supply line L1, through the catheter 12, and back to the system 14 through a fluid return line L2, such that no coolant enters the body. While certain preferred catheters are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that other catheters can be used in accordance with present principles, including, without limitation, any of the catheters disclosed above or in the following U.S. patents, all incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,486,208, 5,837,003, 6,110,168, 6,149,673, 6,149,676, 6,231,594, 6,264,679, 6,306,161, 6,235,048, 6,238,428, 6,245,095, 6,251,129, 6,251,130, 6,254,626, 6,261,312, 6,312,452, 6,325,818, 6,409,747, 6,368,304, 6,338,727, 6,299,599, 6,287,326, 6,126,684, 7,211,106. The catheter 12 may be placed in the venous system, e.g., in the superior or inferior vena cava.

Instead of or in addition to the catheter 12, the system 10 may include one or more pads 18 that are positioned against the external skin of the patient 16 (only one pad 18 shown for clarity). The pad 18 may be, without limitation, any one of the pads disclosed in the external pad patents. The temperature of the pad 18 can be controlled by the control system 14 to exchange heat with the patient 16, including to induce therapeutic mild or moderate hypothermia in the patient in response to the patient presenting with, e.g., cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, high intracranial pressure, traumatic brain injury, or other malady the effects of which can be ameliorated by hypothermia. The pad 18 may receive working fluid from the system 14 through a fluid supply line L3, and return working fluid to the system 14 through a fluid return line L4. The pump “P” may be a peristaltic pump which engages any one of the lines L1-L4, which are typically plastic IV lines, to urge working fluid through the lines through peristalsis.

The control system 14 may include one or more microprocessors 20 receiving target and patient temperatures as input and controlling, among other things, the pump “P” and a refrigerant compressor 22 with a bypass valve 24 that can be opened to permit refrigerant to bypass the compressor.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-5, an example of the pump “P” in FIG. 1 is shown and generally designated 30. The pump 30 includes a rigid, preferably metal or hard plastic raceway 32 and a rotor 34. The raceway 32 may be formed from a block of material as shown and has an inner arcuate surface 36 which may have a substantially constant radius of curvature. In some examples, the arcuate surface 36, which defines a midpoint 38 between its two ends 40, 42 (labeled in FIG. 3), can extend through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and may extend through an arc of between one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and two hundred degrees (200°). In the example shown, the arcuate surface 36 extends, from one end 40 to the other end 42, through an approximately 200° arc.

As understood herein, covering more than 180° degrees of arc with the raceway provides an extra margin against internal leakage due to a pump roller not fully compressing the tubing against the raceway (a flaw colloquially known as “blowby”). Furthermore, it is possible that covering more than 180° degrees of arc allows the tubing to open gradually after being compressed by a drive roller and thereby reduce the degree of pulsatility of the flow. This in turn can reduce the amount of unwanted movement experienced by the downstream tubing and catheter when subject to pulsating flow.

A motor, described further below, rotates the rotor 34 relative to the raceway 32. As well, the rotor 34 is movable translationally relative to the raceway 32 between a pump position (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9), in which the rotor 34 is spaced from the midpoint 38 of the inner surface 36 of the raceway 32 a first distance, and a tube load position (FIGS. 4, 5, and 8), in which the rotor 34 is spaced from the midpoint 38 a greater, second distance. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the pump position, rollers on the rotor 34 urge against a tube such as an IV tube that disposed between the rollers and the raceway 32. In the tube position, the rotor 34 is sufficiently spaced from the raceway 32 to permit a tube 44 to be disposed between the raceway and rotor and to be removed therefrom by hand. Example mechanisms for moving the rotor translationally are discussed further below.

Indeed, and now referring to FIGS. 6-9 for example structure, mounted on the rotor 34 are at least one and preferably plural rollers to urge against the tube 44 to pump fluid through the tube. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the rotor is defined in part by a rectilinear, non-square body, and each corner of the body a roller is mounted, potentially rotatably mounted to the rotor body. In the example, at one set of opposed corners on the body, drive rollers 46 are respectively mounted (only one drive roller shown in the perspective of FIG. 6), whereas at the other set of opposed corners on the body, guide rollers 48 are respectively mounted. Thus, between the drive rollers 46 are guide rollers 48.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drive roller 46 has a cylindrical outer surface, and the entire outer surface is configured to urge against the tube 44. In other words, the entire outer surface of the example drive roller is a single smooth cylinder without any flanges having peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface. In contrast, FIG. 7 best shows that the guide roller 48 also has a cylindrical outer surface but in addition includes top and bottom flanges 50, 52 defining respective peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller such that the tube 44 can be received on the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller between the flanges 50, 52 when the rotor is in the pump position and is rotated. In the example shown, two and only two drive rollers 46 and two and only two guide rollers 48 are provided.

Also, in the example shown, owing to the non-square shape of the rotor 34 body, the angle 54 between the drive roller 46 and guide roller 48 at one of the ends of the rotor body, with a vertex on a point on the roller body (e.g., the midpoint), is not ninety degrees. Instead, in the example shown, the angle 54 may be, for example, fifty-five degrees. The same angle obtains at the opposite end of the rotor body. However, in some embodiments the rotor body is square, in which case all rollers are separated from the adjacent rollers by ninety degrees.

A block-like motor mount 56 supports a motor 58 such as a small ac or dc motor, in some embodiments, a stepper motor or other appropriate motor type. The motor 58 is coupled to the rotor 34 by an output shaft 60, with, in some embodiments, a reduction gear train (not shown) being meshed between the motor shaft and the output shaft 60.

A positioning mechanism is coupled to the motor mount 56 and is manipulable by a person to move the motor mount 56 to thereby move the rotor 34 between the pump position and the tube load position. In a non-limiting example, referring briefly back to FIG. 2, a base 61 stationarily holds the raceway 32, and a preferably rectilinear rigid support block 62 (FIGS. 2 and 6-9) is bolted or welded to the base 61 or made integrally therewith. A push rod 64 (FIGS. 7-9) extends through a hole 66 in the support block 62 to contact and/or be engaged with the motor mount 56 and/or with a motor plate 68 coupled to the motor mount 56. A handle 70 is coupled at a hinge mechanism 72 to the push rod 64. The handle can be moved by hand to a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the push rod 64 (FIGS. 6 and 9) to pull the push rod and thus to move the motor mount 56 (and hence rotor 34) toward the inner surface of the raceway 32, thereby moving the rotor 34 to the pump position. The handle can also be moved by hand down from the perpendicular orientation to the non-perpendicular orientation shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. This pushes the push rod 64 and thus moves the motor mount 56/rotor 34 away from the pump position to the tube load position. One or more radial bearings 74, 76 may be provided as appropriate to radially support elements of the positioning mechanism.

Also, and focusing on FIG. 7, to support the motor mount 56 and attendant elements that move with it, two side brackets 78 may be provided on respective sides of the raceway 32 (only one bracket 78 shown in FIG. 7). A vertical flange 80 of the side bracket 78 may be affixed to the raceway 32, e.g., by threaded fasteners or welding, and a swing arm 82 pivotably coupled to the vertical flange 80 and rotatably coupled to the motor mount 56 or other component that moves with the motor mount. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a hole 84 is formed in the swing arm 82 and rotatably engages a pin 86 that is attached to and that extends radially away from the motor plate 68. Recall that the motor mount 56, motor plate 68, and rotor 34 move translationally together as unit.

Owing to the example positioning mechanism described above, as best shown in FIG. 9 the motor mount 56 (with motor plate 68) is parallel to the raceway 32 when the rotor 34 is in the pump position. In contrast, as best shown in FIG. 8 the motor mount 56 (with motor plate 68) is obliquely angled relative to the raceway 32 when the rotor 34 is in the tube load position. That is, an oblique angle 90 is established between, for example, the plane of the motor plate 68 and the plane defined by the bottom surface of the raceway 32 when the rotor 34 is in the tube load position. To further facilitate motion of the positioning mechanism when the handle 70 is moved, a hinge pin 92 (FIG. 7) may be provided as part of the coupling between the push rod 64 and motor mount 56/motor plate 68.

Thus, the rotor 34 can move linearly relative to raceway 32. In the example shown, linear bearings are used, it being understood that equivalently a multi-bar linkage between the rotor and raceway can be used for pseudo-linear motion. In any case, in the tube position the rotor is a sufficient distance (typically an inch or more) so that the tube 44 can be inserted freely between the rotor and raceway by a person. Then, when the rotor is moved to the pump position, at least the drive rollers 46 urge into the tube 44 sufficiently to stretch the tube 44 by an elongation of at least 3% and typically 3-15%. This elongation advantageously ensures that slack does not build up in the tubing as it wears and stretches during use. As understood herein, such slack can lead to kinking of the tubing or excessive wear.

FIG. 8 is used to schematically show that at least one angular position sensor 94 can be provided on the motor 58. Without limitation, the angular position sensor may be a Hall effect sensor, or a dc stepper motor revolution counter, or a potentiometer type sensor. The sensor 94 generates an output representative of the angular position of the motor. The sensor 94 may be coupled to the motor shaft or the output shaft 60 or other part of the rotating mechanism in the pump.

In any case, the processor 20 shown in FIG. 1 can control the motor 58 and can receive the signal from the sensor 94. Using the signal from the sensor 94, the processor 20 can prevent the motor 58 from stopping at an angular position corresponding to at least one roller 46/48 being in a predetermined angular location relative to the raceway 32. In an example, the predetermined location of the roller corresponding to the angular position at which the motor is prevented from stopping is at an arc end 40 or 42 of the raceway 32. This ensures that, particularly when a raceway arc of >180 degrees is used, the rollers will not be in the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions (i.e., adjacent to the ends of the arc), which would interfere with the raceway even when the rotor is in the tube load position and thereby complicate tube loading and unloading.

Thus, the position sensor 94 can be coupled to the motor shaft to indicate critical angular positions to avoid stopping the motor at. The processor 20 can control the motor so that it will not stop on these critical positions. Altemately, the signal from the one or more sensors 94 can be used to indicate non-critical positions, with the processor 20 controlling the motor so it will always stop on these non-critical angular positions. Yet again, a mechanical may be used to ensure that the motor/rotor does not stop in critical positions.

Completing the description, the tube 44 may be configured as a loop as best shown in FIG. 6, with the ends of the loop engaged with a manifold 100 in fluid communication with the interior of the manifold 10. In turn, the interior of the manifold 100 may communicate with a cassette 102 such as the cassette shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/180,655, filed Feb. 24, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. Such a cassette can be engaged with structure in the control system 14 to exchange heat with working fluid flowing through the cassette 102 and tube 44 and being circulated by the pump shown and described herein to and from a heat exchange member such as the catheter 12/pad 18.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.

“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A. B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A. B, and C together, etc.

While the particular HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM FOR PATIENT TEMPERATURE CONTROL WITH EASY LOADING HIGH PERFORMANCE PERISTALTIC PUMP is herein shown and described in detail, the scope of the present invention is to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Pump, comprising: an arcuate raceway having a concave inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°), the arc defining a midpoint; a rotor facing the inner surface of the raceway, the rotor being rotatable relative to the raceway, the rotor being translationally mounted relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance; a motor coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor; and plural rollers arranged on the rotor to contact tubing disposed between the rotor and the raceway at least when the rotor is in the pump position, wherein the motor is prevented from stopping at at least one angular position in which at least one roller is in a predetermined location.
 2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the concave inner surface of the raceway extends through an arc of between one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and two hundred degrees (200°).
 3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the rollers comprise: at least one drive roller on the rotor, the drive roller having a cylindrical outer surface, the entire outer surface being configured to urge against a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position and is rotated, the drive roller having no flanges with peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface; and at least one guide roller on the rotor, the guide roller having a cylindrical outer surface and top and bottom flanges defining respective peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller such that a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway is received on the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller between the flanges when the rotor is in the pump position and is rotated.
 4. The pump of claim 3, comprising plural drive rollers and plural guide rollers.
 5. The pump of claim 3, comprising two and only two drive rollers and two and only two guide rollers.
 6. The pump of claim 1, comprising a motor mount supporting the motor and rotor and a positioning mechanism coupled to the motor mount and manipulable by a person to move the motor mount to thereby move the rotor between the pump position and the tube load position.
 7. The pump of claim 6, wherein the motor mount is parallel to the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position, the motor mount being obliquely angled relative to the raceway when the rotor is in the tube load position.
 8. The pump of claim 1, wherein the arc defines opposed arc ends, and the predetermined location of the roller corresponding to the angular position at which the motor is prevented from stopping is at an arc end.
 9. The pump of claim 1, comprising a controller configured for controlling the motor and an angular position sensor configured for sensing angular position of the motor and generating a signal indicative thereof to the controller, the controller configured to use the signal to prevent the motor from stopping at the angular position in which at least one roller is in the predetermined location.
 10. Method comprising: rotating a peristaltic pump rotor relative to a raceway to urge fluid through a tube disposed between the raceway and the rotor; and automatically preventing the rotor from stopping at one or more predetermined angular positions.
 11. A pump assembly, comprising: a raceway; a rotor spaced from the raceway; a motor configured to rotate the rotor to urge fluid through a tube disposed between the raceway and the rotor; and a controller configured to control the motor to automatically prevent the motor from stopping at one or more predetermined angular positions.
 12. The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the raceway has an inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°), the arc defining a midpoint, and the rotor faces the inner surface of the raceway.
 13. The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to the raceway and is also translationally mounted relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance.
 14. The pump assembly of claim 12, wherein the inner surface of the raceway extends through an arc of between one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and two hundred degrees (200°).
 15. The pump assembly of claim 11, comprising: at least one drive roller on the rotor, the drive roller having a cylindrical outer surface, the entire outer surface being configured to urge against a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway, the drive roller having no flanges with peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface; and at least one guide roller on the rotor, the guide roller having a cylindrical outer surface and top and bottom flanges defining respective peripheries extending beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller such that a tube disposed between the rotor and the raceway is receivable on the cylindrical outer surface of the guide roller between the flanges.
 16. The pump assembly of claim 11, comprising plural drive rollers and plural guide rollers on the rotor.
 17. The pump assembly of claim 11, comprising two and only two drive rollers and two and only two guide rollers on the rotor.
 18. The pump assembly of claim 13, comprising a motor mount supporting the motor and rotor and a positioning mechanism coupled to the motor mount and manipulable by a person to move the motor mount to thereby move the rotor between the pump position and the tube load position.
 19. The pump assembly of claim 18, wherein the motor mount is parallel to the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position, the motor mount being obliquely angled relative to the raceway when the rotor is in the tube load position.
 20. The pump assembly of claim 12, wherein the arc defines opposed arc ends, and the predetermined angular position at which the motor is prevented from stopping corresponds to a roller on the rotor being juxtaposed with an arc end. 